In 2023, 27 Member States reported 2952 confirmed invasive human cases of Listeria monocytogenes, corresponding to a European Union notification rate of 0.66 cases per 100,000 population. This was an increase of 5.8% compared with the rate in 2022 (0.63 cases per 100,000 population) and the highest rate and number of cases reported since 2007.

The overall trend for L. monocytogenes infections showed a statistically significant increase over the 2019–2023 period.

A total of 186,997 sampling units from different ‘ready-to-eat’ food categories, collected at the distribution or manufacturing stages, were reported by 25 Member States. In 2023, a major decrease in sample submissions was noted, primarily due to the absence of data from Poland, which had previously been a major contributor.

At distribution, the proportions of single samples testing positive for L. monocytogenes, based on enumeration tests conducted by competent authorities as part of verification of the food safety criteria listed in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria, were either zero or remained rare (<0.1%) to very low (0.1% to 1.0%) in 6 out of 10 targeted ‘ready-to-eat' food categories. The highest proportion of positive samples (14.8%) was found in ‘products of meat origin, fermented sausage’. For ‘hard cheeses’, ‘products of meat origin other than fermented sausages’ and ‘fish’, the proportions of positive samples were relatively low (1.8%, 1.4% and 1.1%, respectively). Statistics on positive samples indicated further that the proportion of samples exceeding 100 CFU/g was either zero or consistently rare to very low across all ‘ready-to-eat' food categories. The highest proportion, 0.78%, was reported for ‘products of meat origin, fermented sausages’.

At manufacturing, in the context of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, the proportions of single samples testing positive for L. monocytogenes, based on detection tests conducted by competent authorities, were either zero or remained rare (<0.1%) to very low (0.1% to 1.0%) in 4 out of 8 targeted ‘ready-to-eat' food categories. The highest proportion of positive samples (2.8%) was found in ‘other products’. For ‘fishery products’, ‘fish’ and ‘soft and semi-soft cheeses’, the proportions of positive samples were low (1.8%, 1.4% and 1.3%, respectively). These proportions were higher at the manufacturing stage than at the distribution level across all targeted ‘ready-to-eat' food categories, except for ‘products of meat origin other than fermented sausages’, where the proportion was lower (0.9%) compared to the distribution stage (1.4%). No L. monocytogenes was detected in ‘milk’, at any stage.

In the context of other monitoring activities, the occurrence of L. monocytogenes gives an indication of the reasonably foreseeable contamination rate in these ‘ready-to-eat' food categories. Results varied according to the ‘ready-to-eat' food category, the sampling stage, the number of tested samples and the number of reporting countries. In the framework of objective sampling, all samplers and sampling units included, overall occurrences remained generally rare (<0.1%) to low (1% to 10%) in these categories. The overall highest values (from 2% to 10%) were observed for ‘fish and fishery products’, ‘meat products from bovines or pigs’, ‘fruits and vegetables’ and ‘cheeses from raw or low heat- treated milk’.

At primary production, the percentage of positive units was very low in pigs (0.26%) and low in small ruminants (sheep and goats) and cattle (4.2% and 1.5%, respectively). The low number of Member States reporting data reflects the absence of minimum legal requirements for harmonised sampling and reporting at primary production.